Whether the Advocate's general reply was really considered by Buzanval
as a grave sarcasm, politely veiled, may be a question. That envoy,
however, spoke to his Government of the matter as surrounded with
difficulties, but not wholly desperate. Barneveld was, he said, inclined
to doubt whether the archdukes would be able, before any negotiations
were begun, to comply with the demand which he had made upon them to have
a declaration in writing that the United Provinces were to be regarded as
a free people over whom they pretended to no authority. If so, the
French king would at once be informed of the fact. Meantime the envoy
expressed the safe opinion that, if Prince Maurice and the Advocate
together should take the matter of Henry's sovereignty in hand with zeal,
they might conduct the bark to the desired haven. Surely this was an
'if' with much virtue in it. And notwithstanding that he chose to
represent Barneveld as, rich, tired, at the end of his Latin, and willing
enough to drop his anchor in a snug harbour, in order to make his fortune
secure, it was obvious enough that Buzanval had small hope at heart of
seeing his master's purpose accomplished.

As to Prince Maurice, the envoy did not even affect to believe him
capable of being made use of, strenuous as the efforts of the French
Government in that direction had been. "He has no private designs that
I can find out," said Buzanval, doing full justice to the straightforward
and sincere character of the prince. "He asks no change for himself or
for his country." The envoy added, as a matter of private opinion
however, that if an alteration were to be made in the constitution of
the provinces, Maurice would prefer that it should be made in favour
of France than of any other Government.

He lost no opportunity, moreover, of impressing it upon his Government